Windows to Russia

Halupki, also known as stuffed cabbage in the Russian/Ukrainian world, is a dish made of rice, beef, even grains of several types and even pork wrapped in cabbage. My grandma Opal Stroud (German name of course said the horse,) taught me how to make this delicious food for the poor people we were. Every family has their own version of this traditional/cultural dish (all over the world.) I hope you enjoy these with mashed potatoes, corn and or even green beans, just as we always did in my family and the family I have now! Wrap it in cabbage leaves and call it Halupki…

Ingredients

1 head cabbage…
enough water to cover cabbage cut up…
1/4 teaspoon salt/pepper…
3 pounds lean ground beef, pork, and or whatever…
1 1/2 cups cooked white rice, even buckwheat (In Russia гречиха (grechikha))…
1/4 cup finely chopped onion a little bit of chopped garlic if desired and or leave this out completely…
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (Who cares really for this?)
2 complete eggs, shelled and slightly beaten…
salt to boil with…
1 (28 ounce) can tomato sauce or even tomato paste will do…
2 2/3 tablespoons white sugar (Really could do without…)

Directions

Place the cabbage in a stockpot with enough water to cover. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt to the water and cabbage. Bring water to a boil over medium-high heat. Turn cabbage every 2-3 minutes and remove leaves that separate from cabbage and place in a strainer to cool. Boil until all the leaves have cooked, about 15 minutes. they start to become translucent and flexible….Reserve aside 16 oz. of cabbage water…

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). While waiting to cook cabbage…
Trim thickest bottom vein off of bottom of each cabbage leaf. Before using…
In a large bowl thoroughly mix together, ground beef, ground pork, rice, chopped onion, fresh parsley, egg lightly whipped, garlic powder and or real garlic, salt, and pepper…
Lightly pack a small amount of meat mixture and place in the center of the cabbage leaf. on a board…
Fold sides over the filling and start at the stem and roll the cabbage up until the meat is covered with the whole leaf….Repeat with remaining leaves and filling…
Toss the leftover leaves that are pieces and place into the bottom of a nonstick roasting pan.
Layer the stuffed cabbage rolls over the cut/chopped/broken cabbage leaves.
In a bowl, mix the tomato sauce, reserved cabbage water, and white sugar…
Pour the tomato sauce mixture over the cabbage rolls…
Cover roasting pan with aluminum foil. Or a lid that fits if oven proof…
Bake in preheated oven until the ground beef mixture is no longer pink in the center, about 2 hours.
Baste stuffed cabbage rolls every half hour or better…

I like to cut baking time into half, by cooking the mixture first. Your choice…

In a large bowl thoroughly mix together, ground beef, ground pork, rice, chopped onion, fresh parsley, egg lightly whipped, garlic powder and or real garlic, salt, and pepper…

Take above and fry in skillet until done and browned and use to roll up in the leaves of the cabbage…

Can’t tell the difference in taste and definitely saves time. You also just adjust flavors in your mind to what tastes good to you. More salt, more pepper and tons of garlic. Yummy!

Add a can of corn, green beans and or what ever and cook at the same time. Just use your imagination and go for it. I will say this, “It is easy to make, cheap to make and leftovers are never a problem.”

Make a huge batch and freeze half of it for next week…

Now you know what to do with that giant head of cabbage?

WtR

PS: Variations in the world:

Grandma called them Kohlrouladens and used a brown gravy to smother them in… but they are called many things and eaten to the last many places around the world…

Balandėliai (little pigeons) – Lithuania
Галубцы[Halubcy] – Belarus
Голубцы[Golubtsy] (little pigeons) – Russia
Gołąbki (little pigeons) – Poland
Голубці[Holubtsi] – (little pigeons) – Ukraine
Tīteņi – Latvia
Holubky – Czech Republic and Slovakia
Holishkes – Ashkenazi Jewish
Prakas – Ashkenazi Jewish
Krouv Memula – Israel
Kåldolmar – Sweden
Kaalikääryle – Finland
Kapsarull – Estonia
Töltött káposzta – Hungary
Japrak or Sarma (Sarma me lakër të bardhë) – Albania
Сарма (sarma) – Republic of Macedonia
Сарма (sarma) – Serbia
Sarma/Сарма – Bosnia and Herzegovina
Punjeni kupus or Arambašići – Croatia
Сарми (Sarma) – Bulgaria
Sarmale – Romania, Moldova
Sarma – the Balkans and Turkey
Lahana dolması – Turkey
Lahanodolmades (Λαχανοντολμάδες) – Greece
Kələm dolması – Azerbaijan
Kaghambi tolma (կաղամբի տոլմա) – Armenia
Tolma (ტოლმა) – Georgia
Dolmeye Kalam (cabbage dolma) – Iran
Malfoof mahshi (محشي ملفوف) – the Levant
Mahshi kuronb (محشي كرنب) – Egypt and Sudan
Kohlroulade[Kohlroulade] and Krautwickel – Germany and Austria
Chou farci[Chou farci] – France
Cigares au chou – Quebec
Involtini di cavolo – Italy
Capuns – Graubunden, Switzerland and Lombardy, Italy
Bragioli – Malta
Niños Envueltos – Argentina, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico and Chile
Charuto de Repolho – Brazil
Aluske – Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil)
Bai Cai Juan (白菜卷) – China
Rōru kyabetsu (ロールキャベツ) – Japan
Cải bắp cuốn[Bắp cải cuốn thịt] – Vietnam

Another recipe to use from WtR

Recipe From Russia: Simply a Golubtsy!

West’s Fatal Intellectual Poverty

The United States and its NATO allies are facing an existential threat. But the threat has nothing to do with Russia, China, or any other external “enemy” for that matter.

Source: West’s Fatal Intellectual Poverty

You should read t6his article and start thinking, for it is happening and is not propaganda. Maybe you feel better calling it propaganda, but I have talked about this for ten years now on this blog…

I thought the 60’s were pathetic…

Did I insult someone, Good! You need to think for yourself and that my friend is exactly what is wrong. We have lost the ability to be independent… – Kyle Keeton

WtR

Tanker Carrying 1st Batch of Russian LNG Arrives in Boston

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Tanker Gaselys, carrying the first shipment of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) reached a port near the city of Boston in the east of the United States, the United States Coast Guard told Sputnik.

Source: Tanker Carrying 1st Batch of Russian LNG Arrives in Boston

What can you say? It does not matter why! It just matters that we are and we need it. So walk and talk your lies…

America has to buy Russian Gas…

WtR

Other words; quit sleeping while Rome Burns…

America

Dagong Downgrades the Sovereign Credit Ratings of the United States of America

Dagong Global Credit Rating Co., Ltd.

January 16, 2018

Dagong Global Credit Rating Co., Ltd. (“Dagong”) has decided to downgrade both the local and foreign currency sovereign credit ratings of the United States of America (hereinafter referred to as “the United States” or “the US”) from A- to BBB +, and each with a negative outlook. The perennial negative impact of the superstructure on the economic base has continued to deteriorate the debt repayment sources of the federal government, and this trend will be further exacerbated by the government’s massive tax cuts. The increasing reliance on the debt-driven mode of economic development will continue to erode the solvency of the federal government.

The main reasons for downgrading the sovereign credit ratings of the United States are as follows:

1. Deficiencies in the current US political ecology make it difficult for the efficient administration of the federal government, so the national economic development derails from the right track. Under the political ecology which is built by the factional rivalries, factional interests are prioritized, and it is hard for the government to focus on the management of the national economy and social development. Therefore, the national economy is highly debt-driven. Nevertheless, the government did not discover from the financial crises that it is the debt-driven mode of economic development that has hindered the country from making ends meet. Instead, it continues to seek credit expansion through direct issuance of the US dollars, therefore serves as the “track walker” on the wrong track that departs from logic.

2. The distorted credit ecology that violates the law of value leads to the abnormal solvency of the federal government. Capital’s desire for profits makes the financial sectors of the United States strive for more profits through continuous expansion of the chain of credit transactions by designing capital products and trading structures, and the virtual value-added model of capital self-circulation that runs out of the real economy provides living space for the ever-blooming debt bubble of the federal government. The government has formed a virtual solvency by increasing new debts in the name of the United States through abusing the right of issuance the US dollar as the international reserve currency. Therefore, the distorted credit ecology has made the federal government’s abnormal solvency become its derivative product.

3. Massive tax cuts directly reduce the federal government’s sources of debt repayment, therefore further weakens the base of government’s debt repayment. The tax cuts act implemented from 2018 did not attack the root cause of the unsustainable debt-driven economy of the US, so it is projected that the US economy growths only 2.3% in 2018, and would grow even more slowly in the years after. Besides, fiscal revenue of the federal government will keep declining due to the tax cuts, so it is projected that the fiscal revenue to GDP ratio will fall to 14.0% in 2022, a 3.3 percentage points down from that of 2017. The rising demand for national defense, infrastructure and rigid spending will made it hard for the federal government to reduce fiscal expenditure effectively, thus it is estimated that the fiscal deficit of the federal government in 2018 and 2019 will rise to 3.9% and 4.1% respectively.

4. Using the rising debt to make up for the fiscal gap brought by the tax cuts will inevitably increase the credit risk of the federal government. The financial gap and the pressure to repay maturing debts raise the financing needs of the federal government. It is estimated that ratio of fiscal revenue-to-debt of the federal government will be 14.9% and 14.2% in 2018 and 2019 respectively, and the ratio will deteriorate to 12.1% in 2022. The government will then have to raise the debt ceiling frequently. In addition, the government’s realizable assets-to-debt ratio is merely 7.3% in 2017. That is to say, the government cannot stay solvent relying solely on its realizable assets and it has to resort to debt monetization to maintain the balance between repayment sources and debt. However, interest rate increase and balance sheet reduction of the Federal Reserve raise the cost of finance through debt roll-over. Thus to roll over debts is unsustainable.

5. The virtual solvency of the federal government would be likely to become the detonator of the next financial crisis. The serious imbalance between the sources of debt repayment and liabilities makes the federal government the weakest link in the US debt chain. Taking the advantage of its right to print money, the US strives to maintain its solvency by purchasing treasuries with newly-printed dollars, which, in itself, is a debt crisis. The market’s reversing recognition of the value of US treasury bonds and US dollar will be a powerful force in destroying the fragile debt chain of the federal government.

Debt economy model determined by US political system, strategy and economic base will not change; tax cuts have increasingly adverse effects on the government’s repayment sources; continuous reduction of fiscal revenue and increase of debts show that the government’s repayment ability is weakening. Hence, Dagong holds a negative outlook for both the local and foreign currency sovereign credit.

【Dagong Downgrades the Sovereign Credit Ratings of the United States of America】

Hmm…. No wonder the US is crying about China!

WtR

Some British politicians bear no responsibility for their words. pic.twitter.com/MdzsFBKBr4

— Russian Embassy, UK (@RussianEmbassy) January 26, 2018

It Must Be True…..

The Kremlin is assessing how attacks on British infrastructure can cause chaos and kills millions, according to Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson.

Source: Russia is ready to ‘kill thousands and thousands’ of British people

Run “Chicken Little” Run

WtR

The most horrifying interesting ignorant thing I read: is this article below. California is full of crazy people…

A nonprofit group wants coffee manufacturers, distributors and retailers to post ominous warnings about a cancer-causing chemical stewing in every brew.
Source: Coffee sold in California could carry cancer warning labels

But then I found this article below and I see a mindset of crazies…

Source: The Feminist Seduction of Western Society

Devastatingly low birth rates, high divorce rates, relationship dysfunction, and a war against the biological basis of male-female roles have resulted in the collapse of traditional society. And it can be traced back, in a variety of ways, to the feminist ideologues of the 20th century and the Marxist intellectual environment they emerged from. Like the ‘bearded schizoids’ of the 19th century, feminist ideologues have poisoned the well of traditional society in order to provoke revolution from within.

and…

U.S. stocks closed sharply higher on Friday as quarterly earnings top estimates, while the economy continues to grow.

Source: Dow pops 224 points, stocks notch record close on strong earnings

and…

Opioid Epidemic: US Pays Dearly for Painkiller Revolution
New York City has filed a lawsuit against seven pharmaceutical companies and three prescription drugs distributors, seeking to hold them accountable for igniting the deadly opioid epidemic that has swept the country, not sparing the Big Apple. The city demands a compensation of $500 million to cover addiction-related expenses.

Source: Opioid Epidemic: US Pays Dearly for Painkiller Revolution

The US got ‘hooked’ on opioid use during the Vietnam War and it has only grown in use since…

and…

The Opioid Epidemic in America – Killing One Million Workers: The Triumph of Capital

and…

The Russiagate Stakes Are Extreme

and…

MOSCOW, January 26. /TASS/. The US Administration extended the list of companies and individuals in Russia and other countries covered by unilateral sanctions introduced in connection with developments in Ukraine. The relevant notice was posted on Friday on the website of the US Treasury Department. Twenty one individuals were added to the sanction list, mainly citizens of Russia and Ukraine.The list of legal entities falling under sanctions now includes Russian power machine-building company Power Machines, which is among top ten global industry leaders by capacity of installed equipment. The US also introduced sanctions against Technopromexport, an affiliate of the Russian state-owned corporation Rostec, together with its general director Sergei Topor-Gilka. Ukraine-related sanctions affect seven other Russian companies also. Twelve affiliates of Russian oil producer Surgutneftegaz were included this time into the list of US sectoral sanctions against Russia.

More: http://tass.com/world/987113

And it is the stupidity of actions by the USA as per the article above, that causes what is happening in the article below…

and…

Two Minutes to Midnight!

In 2017, world leaders failed to respond effectively to the looming threats of nuclear war and climate change, making the world security situation more dangerous than it was a year ago—and as dangerous as it has been since World War II.

Source: Read the 2018 Doomsday Clock Statement

I call it digging our own grave…

WtR

I am thinking…

Is polluted air, water, and soil, causing a loss of brain function to some populations? Drugs, immorality and greed? There appears to be a pack of mad dogs straining to attack anyone and everyone for any reason or no reason. If it were only the US that is led by lunatics, the rest of the world could easily constrain the senseless carnage. Obviously those in power in Israel, Saudi Arabia and a few other rogue leaders around Europe/Western Empire are just as deranged. Vapidly and as normal in life, in the extreme…

What the hell do these leaders and governments do when they get up, have coffee/breakfast and decide who to extirpate as if it was a mundane legit job to do everyday? (Monday through Friday and weekends if they work overtime!)

Where are the wise leaders? (&) Where are the people that care?

History repeats itself. So you might wanna pay attention. – Quavo

WtR

Actually I shop a lot in Russia. Been here for 10 years and more and have bought a bunch of stuff. Then again, I have been called a liar as many times as I shop in Russia. People from the west, just do not get that they are being fed propaganda and all that is said about Russia is simply not true…

Last lying article, below…

What does a 1000 rubles buy?

I had a bunch of people call me a liar and this time I kept the receipt. I am still using the stuff from last time, about 9 days ago and included the receipt to show what I buy. Hope to get nine more days from this batch…

I had beets from the last time and this time I bought some carrots and chicken wings. I will make a borscht tonight for us American and Russian. The most favorite/best soup in the world…

955.50 rubles is at this very moment = $17.094

I did buy extra in the fact I bought some calamari (dried) for me and two bags of candy for the sweet tooth when it pops up. Other than that, I bought staples that will allow me to create dishes for the two of us and I will try to make it last many days if possible…

I am kinda a pig at times and eat too much… 😉 Svetochka and Boza though are light eaters…

This is what I see and yes blurry fits, for there just is too many items to pick from… 🙂

What I find most interesting is that Americans are so brainwashed that they refuse to understand that Russia is doing very well. The stores are full of Russia made items. Very little from western countries and China, Turkey and South American countries make up the brunt of what Russia does not make. Things like bananas are cheap and plentiful. Russians love bananas….me too…

So again a 1000 rubles buys a week or more of delicious foods to prepare…If you disagree? That is okay, for I live the Russian life and I know what is going on around me…

Oh and the squid is gone already. Yummy and more yummy. It is a Chinese product and oh so good… 45 rubles to spoil myself, you know for walking to the store and back!

On delicious and dirt cheap item are a Ritz like cracker. 125 grams for 9 rubles. Oh they are sooooo good. and they cost just .161 cents a pack. Talk about a great soup cracker, Russian made by the way…

I gotta go…. time to make borscht…

WtR

A discount on Nutella has led to violent scenes in a chain of French supermarkets, as shoppers jostled to grab a bargain on the sweet spread. Intermarché supermarkets offered a 70% discount on Nutella, bringing the price down from €4.50 (£3.90) to €1.40. But police were called when people began fighting and pushing one another. “They are like animals. A woman had her hair pulled, an elderly lady took a box on her head, another had a bloody hand,” one customer told French media. A member of staff at one Intermarché shop in central France told the regional newspaper Le Progrès: “We were trying to get in between the customers but they were pushing us.”

Source: Nutella ‘riots’ spread across France

Something is wrong and this is proof….reminds me of Black Friday in America. Makes you wonder what will happen when the SHTF for real and no staples of food available? People will die with their hands around each others throats…

Stuff is not even that good….unless you are starving to death…

WtR

I am thinking…

Today the kids are taken their skies to school. In school in Russia I have noticed that they teach the kids to ski. Something like that is interesting to me…

Just like when I was a kid, our schools taught us in America, at least the rural schools, to shoot guns and to drive a car. It was a good thing and when we lose that type of taught things, we lose part of who we are that makes us who we are…

Schools should teach music, art, and what ever is normal for the society. We should never let minorities get in the way. We should never put sports above basics of life. In America, guns are a society way of life. The usage and handling of guns should be included in everyday life. In Russia snow is the way of life and thus, kids should be taught to ski. It may save your life in a snowed in society one day…

Something struck me today; City people need to be taught the rural way of life and rural people the city way of life. Then maybe we can garner a better understanding of what makes us all tick…

Just some thoughts by me…

WtR